Though visual art is the heart of the Columbus Arts Festival, performing art takes on a growing role every year, and 2015 will be no exception.
Among the performing areas at this year’s event will be a jazz club, an acoustic lounge, a film festival tent, a dance stage and a spoken word area. The festival continues to expand west, and set up in a new part of the festival grounds will be a Franklinton stage, with most performances being theatrical.
The main stage will have its usual blend of Ohio musicians from different genres, but this year, for the first time ever, it will also host a national headliner. Country musician Neal McCoy (“No Doubt About it,” “Wink,” “They’re Playin’ Our Song,” “Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles on”) takes the stage at 9 p.m. the first night of the festival.
The addition of McCoy speaks to festival organizers’ desire to continue expanding the event’s scope. It’s also a credit to people and organizations who pitched in – Worthington Industries helped organizers financially to bring in a headliner, and company CEO John P. McConnell happens to be good friends with McCoy, says Jami Goldstein, vice president of marketing, communications and events for festival organizer the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
The numbers of visual artists and food vendors are both being expanded this year, with a particular emphasis on food trucks. And the spoken word area will feature a variety of beverages from businesses on the Columbus Coffee Trail, a recent endeavor of Experience Columbus.
Cindy Gaillard is an Emmy award-winning producer with WOSU Public Media. Learn more about the weekly arts and culture magazine show Broad & High at www.wosu.org/broadandhigh.
